The gang runs a multi-million euro drug empire and has the money to hire the best firepower available – and have done so before.

The source said: “That would seem to be case in the murder of Noel ‘Kingsize’ Duggan in March. A getaway car and a scout car were used in this case, and both found burnt out.

“That murder was planned with precision, but they really are just taking on junkies to do other hits if an opportunity presents itself. It works like this, a small dealer is skimming off the top with every kilo of drugs he handles for the Kinahans.

“It’s only a small bit every time, but it adds up. Soon he has skimmed off €30,000 or €50,000. And the Kinahans find out.

“So he is given a chance to pay up. If he doesn’t, he has two choices – do a job, a hit, or get whacked himself. So he takes on the hit.”

Hiring such expendable hitmen has worked in the past but a number of bungled attempts have worried the gang bosses. Gardai were able to dismantle the multi-millionaire drug empire of Gilligan by getting gang members to testify and enter the WPP. The source said: “The Kinahans in particular now fear the WPP. You will see them veer away from the junkie hitmen – and bring in the serious killers again.

Martin’s killer did not have a getaway car, just a pushbike, and then dumped the weapon in a bin near the scene.

He ran around in circles after getting off his bike, blasting away from a semi-automatic, firing up to 11 bullets.

Tragically he killed innocent Martin whom gardai believe was wearing a similar jacket to a senior Hutch gang enforcer.